Compiz and ATI cards

[ricardowec]

For thos of you, who like me, have been struggeling to get Compiz working with Video hardware, here is an official post at the ATI (AMD) Website that will discourage a few:

Knowledge Base
AMD Customer Care Site Map > Archived Drivers and Software > Linux >
737-26907: Unsupported Features with ATI Linux Drivers

The information in this article applies to the following configuration(s):

* AIGLX
* Beryl
* Compiz
* MythTV
* TV TIME

Currently, the following features are not supported with ATI Linux drivers.

* AIGLX, Beryl, Compiz, MythTV, TV TIME

More on http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=26907

[crdlb]

Moved from support forum.

[adamk]

FYI, while Compiz and beryl may not be supported with the ATI linux drivers, it is possible to get both going with the drivers and Xgl.

In addition, for any card up to, and including, the radeon x1050, there are open source drivers which support Compiz/Beryl without the need for Xgl.

When I have some time in the coming week or two, I will try and update the wiki with the necessary information to get compiz running on such cards.

[ricardowec]

Yes, that is true. I have it working with XGL but with several problems:

- No Cube

- Corrupted Key maps

I understand this is alpha software, I am just reporting this fo the people how should take this into account in order to incorporate / fix this features.

[tvst]

fwiw i've been running it fine on xgl since january. i have an ati mobility radeon x1300

[Magnus Wendt]

For those who havn't read todays great news:

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070904006432&newsLang=en

Quake 4 ran 54x faster on a x300 using the new drivers ;) In general, huge speed improvements (50%-90%) and AIGLX support comming later this fall.

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=825&num=1

[Forlong]

In Q4 2007, AMD’s Catalyst software package for Linux will add support for Accelerated Indirect GLX (AIGLX).
http://mitglied.lycos.de/Forlong/smile/coolspot.gif

[adamk]

More importantly (IMHO) than the next driver release, or even the inclusion of AIGLX in the release after that, is the announcement from AMD during the kernel summit this week that they will be releasing an open source 2D driver, as well as 2D/3D specs for r500 and newer cards.

[stjepan]

* 8.41 driver (this month) will be 50%-90% faster and KICK NVIDIA'S ASS and maybe also Windows' ass too :)
* 8.42 will support AIGLX
* specifications for >=R500 are going to be published very soon
* the driver will be opensource (probably, still not sure)

[adamk]

I just want to clarify "the driver". fglrx will probably never be open source. ATI /AMD has said that (at this point) they are not open sourcing fglrx, and most of the DRI developers seem to believe that will never happen. On #dri-devel, it was believed that ATI/AMD will be creating a new open source 2D driver, releasing the 3D specifications, and providing help for those writing an open source 3D driver. This is coming from people who have talked with ATI at the kernel summit.

Adam

[jug]

* 8.41 driver (this month) will be 50%-90% faster and KICK NVIDIA'S ASS and maybe also Windows' ass too :)
* 8.42 will support AIGLX
* specifications for >=R500 are going to be published very soon
* the driver will be opensource (probably, still not sure)
AMD/ATI should take a lesson from Apple:
Apple keynote → “and all these brand new products are shipping today!” No risk of vaporware, or missing features as in Windows Vista.

I believe it when I see it running on my system, not a second earlier.
Otherwise they can make big announcements all they want, cause I don't care.

~jug

[vadi]

Eh, I don't suppose this affects me with my ATI Radeon 7500, does it?

[stjepan]

Eh, I don't suppose this affects me with my ATI Radeon 7500, does it?
No, not at all.

[gahre]

OK, so is there any hope for cards like radeon xpress 1150 to be supported in the near future?
I heard rumours about AIGLX working with latest drivers, what about these?

Cheers

Thomas

[adamk]

compiz is certainly supported on the xpress 1150 (I used to have one of those laptops) but it does require using Xgl, even now.

Supposedly ATI will be releasing drivers this month which will support AIGLX, but only ATI really knows if that's the case or not.

Adam

[gahre]

Hm... I'm an optimist... I guess I'll buy that notebook and be patient ;) The other laptop in the same price segment doesn't have dual core but intel graphics - I guess I'll go for dual core ;)